Photographic camera



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

SAMUEL V. ALLEN, OF FREEPORT, ILLINOIS.

PHOTOGRAPHIC CAMERA.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 274,079, dated March 13, 1883.

Application filed Xovember 1G, 1880. (No model.) I

To all whom it muy concern:

Beit known that I, SAMUEL V. ALLEN, a resident of Freeport, Illinois, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Photographic Cameras, which has not been patented to me or to any other person, with my consent or knowledge, in any foreign country, of which the following` is a specification.

The object of my invention is to enable the photographic operator to dispense with the use ot' the focusing-cloth vwhile adjusting and focusing the image upon the ground glass screen ot' the camera; and it may be described as follows, reference being had to the accompanying drawings,in which similar letters refer to similar' parts throughout the several views:

Figure l is a view ot' the invention as it would appear ifremoved from the ground-glass frame (to which in use it is always attached) and the front wall of the upper recess taken away to show the upper roller, iiexible slide, and upper end of guide, also thereversed band. Note-This view shows the opening in which the hood is to be placed, but not the hood itself'. Fig. 2 is a rear view ot' the same as it would, itin use, appear to a person standing nearly back of the camera. Fig'. 3 is a sectional view ofthe invention as it would appear if attached to the ground-glass frame and both it and the ground glass out down the middle into two equal and similar halves. Exception- The springf, which is attached to inner side of the chamber, and band c, which joins the ends ot' the rollers, and both of which are indicated by dotted lines, are obviously not in the same plane with the other lines of Fig. 3, though so placed for convenience in illustrating.

A dark chamber, Fig. 1, 2, or 3, of which the open front part is to be joined to the rear part of the ordinary ground-glass frame, gj g, is shown in Fig. 3, combined at the back with a sight-piece or hood, d, Fig. 2 or 3, which is attached to a flexible slide, h, Fig. 1, 2, or 3,

which slide has its upper and its lower end attached to the twin rollers a a, turning upon the gudgeonsp p, Fig. 1 or 2, in such manner as to permit ofthe image on the ground glass being inspected at pleasure by raising or lowering the sight-piece d, the exible slide h being kept taut by a band or cord, c, Fig. 1 or 3, moving in reversed direction from the ilexible slide around the rollers and joining them.

Note l. In Fig. 1 the front wall of the upper recess ofthe chamber is removed to exhibit the roller, band, and flexible slide.

Note 2. With the exception of the hood d and the spring f, the upper half of the chamber and all its adjuncts is but a duplicate of the lower half. f

It is evident that various modifications of and adjuncts to my invention, which I call a skiascope,77 may be introduced, as follows:

First. The exible slide may be kept taut by other means than the one described-as by spring-rollers, or by an elastic band used instead of the inelastic band-and a more even tension may be secured to the band or cord by the insertion in the middle of the same of a coiled spring, or, as shown in Fig. 3, by the spring j', attached to the side of the chamber and pressing upon the cord.

Second. A sliding or telescopic form maybe given to the chamber, as indicated at It, Fig. 3, by means ot' which the distance of the hood from the ground glass may be adjusted to any eyesight.

Third. The hood or sight-piece may be so constructed as to slide in and out, as shown at a in Fig. 3. This, also, is to adapt the distance to different eyes.

Fourth. rFhe hood of the skiascope should not be made to iit loosely, as is usual with hand-stereoscopes and similarinstruments, but should be made of such form and so padded with velvet or soft tubing or other suitable material as to tit closely to the face below as well as above the eyes, as shown at din Fig. 2.

Fifth. Guides b b, Fig. 1, may be so placed as to keep the iiexible slide against the rear wall of the skiascope 't for the purpose of excluding the light. These guides may be attached to the rear wall, t, or to the sides o.

Sixth. It is desirable that the exible slide should not be made of heavy material. I therefore,while making the body ofthe slide ot' thin and lightmaterial-as leather, oil-cloth, Stofincrease the rigidity near the hood-opening e, Fig. 1, where such rigidity is desirable to give stability and smoothness of motion, by apiece of thin wood, metal, or other suitable material, which I glue or tack to the thin slide.

IOS

Seventh. A ma.gnifyii1ggless,u,may be employed, as in Fig.'3,whe`reit occupies the front ofthe hood, and its setting may be made to slide in the hood, telescope style; or it may be attached to the hood by hinges7 allowing it to fall or rise when not in use.

Eighth. It is evidentthat when it is notnecessery for the hood to traverse the whole perpendicular height of the ground grass the rollers may be broughtnearer together and the recess above and below be entirely dispensed with, thus making the chamber of L simpler form and more economical of construction.

I claim asvmy invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent- The combination of the dark chamber with the Hexible slide h, the rollers a., and the hood d, substantially as described.

SAMUEL V. ALLEN.

Vitnesses:

JOHN BURRELL, JOSEPH EMMERT. 

